lunulate

The study has also resulted in a clearer picture of the biogeography and biostratigraphy of the Monophorasteridae, and their great significance in the evolution of lunulate sand dollars in the Americas.

Mooi also established that other lunulate taxa such as the Astriclypeidae Stefanini, 1912, were not more closely related to the mellitids than monophorasterids.

They also have important biogeographic implications, given that lunulate sand dollars are today rather rare in the regions in which monophorasterids were once common.